Tories U-turn on plan to ban union action

The Tories have staged a U-turn by abandoning plans to ban strikes on the Tube.

Firm plans to outlaw strikes on the Underground and main overg round lines were unveiled before the last election under William Hague.

But since Michael Howard took over as leader, the party has backed away. Today a spokesman for Tim Yeo, the shadow transport minister, said: "We would not impose a ban or seek legislation to ban strikes. It would present many difficulties, not least the fact that both private and public sector workers would be involved."

Business leaders do not support a ban. A spokesman for London Chamber of Commerce said: "If we called for a ban on Tube strikes, there would be calls for a whole series of bans in other areas."